Oryzanol-containing soft capsule

ABSTRACT

A soft capsule containing as active ingredient γ-oryzanol alone or oryzanol in combination with riboflavin butyrate is described. The shelf life of this composition is increased without precipitation of the ingredients thereof.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 488,790, filed Apr. 26, 1983, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a soft capsule containing as an active ingredient γ-oryzanol alone or γ-oryzanol in combination with the butyric ester of riboflavin.

γ-Oryzanol is an oryzayl alcohol ester of ferulic acid having an antioxidant action. It is known that γ-oryzanol is effective against climacteric melancholia and the butyric ester of riboflavin is also effective in preventing arteriosclerosis.

Unfortunately, however, the solubility of γ-oryzanol in oil is 10 mg/g (oil) and that of the butyric ester of riboflavin is 0.84×7 mg/g (oil). Therefore, these compounds crystallize out when filled in a soft capsule in an amount enough for practical use (e.g., 45.5 mg/g (oil)), and the resulting crystals make the capsule opaque, decreasing their commercial value.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present inventors carried out a series of studies. As a result, they found that the solubility in oil is greatly increased when γ-oryzanol or a combination of γ-oryzanol and the butyric ester of riboflavin is incorporated with a surface active agent.

Accordingly, the gist of the present invention resides in a soft capsule which comprises encapsulated within the film-forming agent (a) γ-oryzanol alone or γ-oryzanol in combination with the butyric ester of riboflavin, (b) one or more than one kind of surface active agent selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan sesquioleate, and sorbitan monooleate, and (c) oil.

The soft capsule of this invention is produced in the following steps. At first, γ-oryzanol alone or a composition composed of γ-oryzanol and butyric ester of riboflavin, and one or more than one kind of surface active agent selected from the above-mentioned three kinds are mixed with oil. The resulting mixture is placed between two ribbons made of the film-forming agent, and the ribbons are pressed against each other by dies, whereby the soft capsule is formed. The capsule forming step may be carried out by the automatic rotary process, semiautomatic Norton machine, or manual plate process. The soft capsule may be spherical, elliptic, or other shapes.

The γ-oryzanol used in this invention is commercially available. The preferred γ-Oryzanol is composed of 25 to 50% of campesterol, 15 to 25% of β-sitosterol, 15 to 30% of cycloartenol, and 10 to 40% of 2,4-methylenecycloartanol. γ-Oryzanol having such a composition can be prepared by extracting so-called "foots" with n-hexane, condensing the extract, extracting with acetone, and cooling the extract for crystallization. The γ-oryzanol to be filled in the soft capsule is used in an amount of 1 to 7%, preferably 2 to 5%, based on the weight of oil.

The butyric ester of riboflavin used in this invention is commercially available, and it is used in an amount of 1 to 7%, preferably 2 to 5%, based on the weight of oil.

The sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan sesquioleate, and sorbitan monooleate used in this invention may be selected from commercial ones. A preferred sorbitan monolaurate is one in which the content of total free polyol is reduced to 2 to 5%. A preferred sorbitan sesquioleate is one in which the content of total free polyol has been reduced to 0.3 to 1.2%. A preferred sorbitan monooleate is one in which the content of total free polyol is 2 to 5%. These surface active agents are incorporated in an amount of 5 to 50%, preferably 10 to 35%, based on the weight of the drug to be filled in the soft capsule.

The oil used in this invention includes, for example, tocopherol and derivatives thereof, wheat germ oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, neutral oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, and peanut oil. The oil may be incorporated with additives such as sweetener and flavor, as required.

The film-forming agent for the soft capsule includes, for example, gelatin. In order to prevent moisture in the air from entering the soft capsule, the gelatin should preferably be incorporated with sorbitol in an amount of 10 to 30%, more suitably 15 to 25%.

The soft capsule of this invention is characerized by that γ-oryzanol or a drug composed of γ-oryzanol and butyric ester of riboflavin does not crystallize out even when it is dissolved in oil in an amount exceeding the ordinary solubility. Thus, the soft capsule of this invention is stable over a long period of time at normal temperature.

The invention is now described in more detail with reference to the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

The compositions to be filled in soft capsules were prepared by mixing γ-oryzanol, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan sesquioleate, wheat germ oil, and d-α-tocopherol acetate in the ratios shown in Table 1.

The film-forming agent was prepared by mixing 116.3 mg of gelatin, 51.1 mg of concentrated glycerin, 1.0 mg of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, 0.4 mg of propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and 1.2 mg of purified water.

Soft capsules were produced from the above-mentioned drugs and film-forming agent using an automatic rotary capsule filling machine (built by Liner Co.)

The resulting soft capsules were stored under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 2 months and under the condition of 20° C. and 95% RH for 2 months. The change after storage was observed. The results are shown in Table 2. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the following criterion.

-: No crystallization

+: One to two small crystals on the inside of the capsule wall

++: Crystallization all over the inside of the capsule wall

+++: Crystallization entirely in the capsule

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compositions of Drugs Filled in Soft Capsules                                              (Unit: mg)                                                                     Compositions                                                       Components  A  B  C   D   E   F  G  H                                          __________________________________________________________________________     γ-Oryzanol                                                                            10                                                                                10*                                                                               10*                                                                                10*                                                                                10  10*                                                                               10*                                                                               10*                                       Sorbitan monolaurate                                                                        --                                                                                --                                                                                50**                                                                               50**                                                                               50**                                                                               50                                                                                --                                                                                50                                        Sorbitan sesquioleate                                                                       50.sup.+                                                                          50.sup.+                                                                          --  50.sup.+                                                                           50.sup.+                                                                           --                                                                                50                                                                                50                                        Wheat germ oil                                                                             180                                                                               180                                                                               180 130 130 180                                                                               180                                                                               180                                        d-α-Tocopherol acetate                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100 100 100 100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                        __________________________________________________________________________      *γ-Oryzanol composed of 32.02% of campesterol, 25.73% of                 β-sitosterol, 24.47% of cycloartenol, and 14.60% of                       2,4methylenecycloartanol.                                                      **Sorbitan monolaurate containing 2.45% of total free polyol.                  .sup.+ Sorbitan sesquioleate containing 0.52% of total free polyol.      

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                        Immediately after production                                                                      After storage                                                     Degree of           Degree and time                                 Storage                                                                             External                                                                             crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                                                                           External                                                                              of crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                     Compositions                                                                          condition                                                                           appearance                                                                           zation                                                                               examination                                                                           appearance                                                                            zation   examination                     __________________________________________________________________________     A      40° C. &                                                                     Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                     75% RH                                                                              transparent        transparent                                     B           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     C           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     D           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     E           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     F           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     G           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     H           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     A      20° C. &                                                                     Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish oil                                                                         ++ (1 month)                                                                            γ-oryzanol                       95% RH                                                                              transparent        crystallized                                    B           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish                                                                             --       --                                          transparent        transparent                                     C           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish oil                                                                         ++ (1 month)                                                                            γ-oryzanol                            transparent        crystallized                                    D           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish oil                                                                         --       --                                          transparent        crystallized                                    E           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Yellowish oil                                                                          ++ (2 months)                                                                          γ-oryzanol                            transparent        crystallized                                    F           Yellowish                                                                            --    Polyol Yellowish oil                                                                         +++ (2 months)                                                                          γ-oryzanol                            transparent        crystallized    polyol                          G           Yellowish                                                                            --    Polyol Yellowish oil                                                                         +++ (2 months)                                                                          γ-oryzanol                            transparent        crystallized    polyol                          H           Yellowish                                                                            --    Polyol Yellowish oil                                                                         +++ (2 months)                                                                          γ-oryzanol                            transparent        crystallized    polyol                          __________________________________________________________________________

The storage for two weeks at 20° C. and 95% RH corresponds to the storage for one year at room temperature. Therefore, even in the case of the soft capsule in which crystallization occurred in a degree of +++ (2 months), stable storage will be ensured at room temperature for more than 2 years.

EXAMPLE 2

The compositions to be filled in soft capsules were prepared by mixing γ-oryzanol, butyric ester of riboflavin (abbreviated as VB₂ hereinafter), sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan sesquioleate, wheat germ oil, and d-α-tocopherol acetate in the ratios shown in Table 3.

Soft capsules of this invention and soft capsules for comparison were produced from the above-mentioned drugs in the same way as in Example 1.

The resulting soft capsules were stored at room temperature for 2 years and also under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 6 months. The change after storage was observed. The results are shown in Table 4. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compositions of Drugs Filled in Soft Capsules                                              (Unit: mg)                                                                     Compositions of this                                                           invention   Compositions for comparison                            Components  I  J   K    L  M  N  O  P                                          __________________________________________________________________________     γ-Oryzanol                                                                           10 10   10*  10                                                                                10                                                                                10                                                                                10                                                                                10                                        VB.sub.2    10 10   10   10                                                                                10                                                                                10                                                                               -- --                                         Sorbitan monolaurate                                                                       50  50**                                                                                50**                                                                              -- -- -- -- --                                         Sorbitan sesquioleate                                                                      50 .sup. 50.sup.+                                                                     .sup.  50.sup.+                                                                     -- -- -- -- --                                         Wheat germ oil                                                                             120                                                                               120 120  220                                                                               170                                                                               170                                                                               170                                                                               170                                        d-α-Tocopherol acetate                                                               100                                                                               100 100  100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                                                               100                                        Nikkol BCO-60                                                                              -- --  --   -- 100                                                                               --  60                                                                               --                                         (Nikko Chemicals Co.)                                                          Nikkol TO-10                                                                               -- --  --   -- -- 100                                                                               --  60                                        (Nikko Chemicals Co.)                                                          __________________________________________________________________________      *γ-Oryzanol composed of 32.02% of campesterol, 25.73% of                 β-sitosterol, 24.47% of cycloartenol, and 14.60% of                       2,4methylenecycloartanol.                                                      **Sorbitan monolaurate containing 2% of total free polyol.                     .sup.+ Sorbitan sesquioleate containing 0.52% of total free polyol.      

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                        Immediately after production                                                                      After storage                                                     Degree of            Degree and time                                Storage                                                                             External                                                                             crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                                                                           External                                                                               of crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                    Composition                                                                           condition                                                                           appearance                                                                           zation                                                                               examination                                                                           appearance                                                                             zation   examination                    __________________________________________________________________________     I      Room Orange red                                                                           --    Polyol Orange red oil                                                                         +        Polyol                                temper-                                                                             transparent        crystallized     γ-oryzanol               J      ature                                                                               Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     K           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     L           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized     VB.sub.2                       M           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                              +++ (13 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    N           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                              +++ (13 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    O           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    P           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    I      40° C. &                                                                     Yellowish                                                                            --    Polyol Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    75% RH                                                                              transparent        transparent                                     J           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     K           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     L           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                          ++ (10 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    M           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Brown oil                                                                               ++ (30 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    N           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Brown oil                                                                               ++ (30 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    O           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ -oryzanol                          transparent        crystallized                                    P           Yellowish                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

The compositions to be filled in soft capsules were prepared by mixing γ-oryzanol, VB₂, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan sesquioleate, wheat germ oil, and d-α-tocopherol acetate in the ratios shown in Table 5.

Soft capsules of this invention and soft capsules for comparison were produced from the above-mentioned drugs in the same way as in Example 1.

The resulting soft capsules were stored under the condition of 20° C. and 85% RH for 2 months. The results are shown in Table 6. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Compositions of Drugs Filled in Soft Capsules                                   (Unit: mg)                                                                                Compositions of this                                                                       Compositions for                                                   invention   comparison                                             Components    Q       R      S    T      U                                     ______________________________________                                         γ-Oryzanol*                                                                             5      10      10  --     --                                    VB.sub.2      10       5      10  10     10                                    Sorbitan monolaurate**                                                                       50      50     100  50     50                                    Sorbitan sesquioleate.sup.+                                                                  50      50     100  50     50                                    Wheat germ oil                                                                               125     125    125  110    125                                   d-α-Tocopherol acetate                                                                 100     100    100  100    100                                   ______________________________________                                          *γ-Oryzanol composed of 32.02% of campesterol, 25.73% of                 β-sitosterol, 24.47% of cycloartenol, and 14.60% of                       2,4methylenecycloartanol.                                                      **Sorbitan monolaurate containing 2.45% of total free polyol.                  .sup.+ Sorbitan sesquioleate containing 0.52% of total free polyol.      

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                   Immediately after production                                                                       After storage                                                     Degree of            Degree and time                                    External                                                                              crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                                                                           External                                                                               of crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                        Composition                                                                           appearance                                                                            zation                                                                               examination                                                                           appearance                                                                             zation   examination                        __________________________________________________________________________     Q      Orange red                                                                            --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                        transparent         transparent                                         R      Orange red                                                                            --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                        transparent         transparent                                         S      Orange red                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         + (2 months)                                                                            γ-oryzanol                          transparent         crystallized                                        T      Orange red                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         ++ (10 days)                                                                            VB.sub.2                                  transparent         crystallized                                        U      Orange red                                                                            --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         ++ (10 days)                                                                            VB.sub.2                                  transparent         crystallized                                        __________________________________________________________________________

The above-mentioned results indicate that the soft capsule of this invention can be stored at room temperature for more than 2 years, and that VB₂ crystallizes out in the soft capsule for comparison during storage at room temperature within 1 year.

EXAMPLE 4

Soft capsules were produced in the same way as in Example 1 from the compositions A to H prepared in Example 1 and the film-forming agent prepared by mixing 116.3 mg of gelatin, 25.0 mg of concentrated glycerin, 26.1 mg of sorbitol, 0.4 mg of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and 1.2 mg of purified water.

The resulting soft capsules were stored under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 2 months and the condition of 20° C. and 95% RH for 2 months. The results are shown in Table 7. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                            Com-                      Degree and time                                                                           Micro-                                    po-   Storage  External   of crystalli-                                                                             scopic                                    sition                                                                               condition                                                                               appearance zation     examination                               ______________________________________                                         A     40° C. &                                                                         Yellowish  --         --                                              75% RH   transparent                                                     B              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     C              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     D              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     E              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     F              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     G              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     H              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     A     20° C. &                                                                         Yellowish oil                                                                             + (1 month)                                                                               γ-oryzanol                                95% RH   crystallized                                                    B              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     C              Yellowish oil                                                                             ++ (1 month)                                         oryzanol                             γ                                                  crystallized                                                    D              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     E              Yellowish  + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         transparent                                                     F              Yellowish  + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         transparent           polyol                                    G              Yellowish  + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         transparent           polyol                                    H              Yellowish  + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         transparent           polyol                                    ______________________________________                                    

The above results indicate that the capsules of this invention can be stored stably at room temperature without crystallization.

EXAMPLE 5

Soft capsules were produced in the same way as in Example 1 from the compositions I to P prepared in Example 2 and the film-forming agent prepared in Example 4. The resulting soft capsules were stored at room temperature for two years and under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 6 months. The results are shown in Table 8. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                                      TABLE 8                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                        Immediately after production                                                                      After storage                                                     Degree of            Degree and time                                Storage                                                                             External                                                                             crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                                                                           External                                                                               of crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                    Composition                                                                           condition                                                                           appearance                                                                           zation                                                                               examination                                                                           appearance                                                                             zation   examination                    __________________________________________________________________________     I      Room Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    temper-                                                                             transparent        transparent                                     J      ature                                                                               Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     K           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     L           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized     VB.sub.2                       M           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                              +++ (13 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    N           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                              +++ (13 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    O           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    P           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    I      40° C. &                                                                     Orange red                                                                           --    Polyol Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    75% RH                                                                              transparent        transparent                                     J           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     K           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     L           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                          ++ (10 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    M           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                               ++ (30 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    N           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Brown oil                                                                               ++ (30 days)                                                                           VB.sub.2                                   transparent        crystallized                                    O           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         ++ + (10 days)                                                                          γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    P           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         +++ (10 days)                                                                           γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 6

Soft capsules were produced in the same way as in Example 1 from the compositions Q to U prepared in Example 3 and the film-forming agent prepared in Example 4. The resulting soft capsules were stored under the condition of 20° C. and 95% RH for 2 months. The results are shown in Table 9. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                                 Degree and time                                                    External    of crystalli-                                                                               Microscopic                                  Composition                                                                             appearance  zation       examination                                  ______________________________________                                         Q        Orange red  --           --                                                    transparent                                                           R        Orange red  --           --                                                    transparent                                                           S        Orange red oil                                                                             + (2 months) γ-oryzanol                                      crystallized                                                          T        Orange red oil                                                                             ++ (10 days) VB.sub.2                                              crystallized                                                          U        Orange red oil                                                                             ++ (10 days) VB.sub.2                                              crystallized                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The above results indicate that the capsules of this invention can be stored stably at room temperature for more than 2 years without crystallization, and that VB₂ crystallized out in the capsules for comparison within 1 year of storage.

EXAMPLE 7

Soft capsules were produced in the same way as in Example 1 from the compositions A to H prepared in Example 1 and the film-forming agent prepared as mentioned below.

FILM-FORMING AGENT (1)

Prepared by mixing 116.3 mg of gelatin, 16.3 mg of concentrated glycerin, 1.0 mg of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, 0.4 mg of propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and 34.8 mg of sorbitol, and 1.2 mg of purified water.

FILM-FORMING AGENT (2)

Same as above except that 11.6 mg of sorbitol and 39.5 mg of concentrated glycerin were used.

The resulting soft capsules were stored under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 2 months. They remained unchanged in external appearance (yellowish transparent) and microscopic examination, without crystallization.

The soft capsules were also stored under the condition of 20° C. and 95% RH for 2 months. The results are shown in Table 10. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                            Com-  Film-               Degree and time                                                                           Micro-                                    po-   forming  External   of crystalli-                                                                             scopic                                    sition                                                                               agent    appearance zation     examination                               ______________________________________                                         A     (1)      Yellowish oil                                                                             + (1 month)                                                                               γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized                                                    B              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     C              Yellowish oil                                                                             ++ (1 month)                                         oryzanol                             γ                                                  crystallized                                                    D              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     E              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized                                                    F              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    G              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    H              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    A     (2)      Yellowish oil                                                                             + (1 month)                                                                               γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized                                                    B              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     C              Yellowish oil                                                                             ++ (1 month)                                         oryzanol                             γ                                                  crystallized                                                    D              Yellowish  --         --                                                       transparent                                                     E              Yellowish oil                                                                             +  (2 months)                                                                             γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized                                                    F              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    G              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    H              Yellowish oil                                                                             + (2 months)                                                                              γ-oryzanol                                         crystallized          polyol                                    ______________________________________                                    

The above results indicate that the capsules of this invention can be stored stably at room temperature for a long period of time.

EXAMPLE 8

The compositions V, W, and X to be filled in soft capsules were prepared from γ-oryzanol, VB₂, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monooleate, wheat germ oil, and d-α-tocopherol acetate at the ratios shown in Table 11.

Soft capsules of this invention were produced from the compositions V and W in the same way as in Example 1. Also, capsules of this invention were produced from the composition X and two kinds of film-forming agents as used in Example 1 in which the content of sorbitol was changed to 11.7 mg and 34.8 mg and the content of concentrated glycerin was changed to 39.4 mg and 16.3 mg, respectively.

The resulting soft capsules were stored at room temperature for 2 years, and under the condition of 40° C. and 75% RH for 6 months and under the condition of 20° C. and 95% RH for 2 months. The results are shown in Table 12. In the table, "Degree of crystallization" is in accordance with the criterion used in Example 1.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Compositions of Drugs Filled in Soft Capsules                                  (Unit: mg)                                                                                   Compositions                                                     Components      V          W       X                                           ______________________________________                                         γ-Oryzanol                                                                               .sup.  10*.sup.1                                                                          .sup.  10*.sup.2                                                                       10                                          VB.sub.2        10         10      10                                          Sorbitan sesquioleate*.sup.3                                                                   50         50      50                                          Sorbitan monolaurate*.sup.4                                                                    50         50      --                                          Sorbitan monooleate*.sup.5                                                                     --         --      50                                          d-α-Tocopherol acetate                                                                   100        100     100                                         Wheat germ oil  120        120     120                                         ______________________________________                                          *.sup.1 γ-Oryzanol composed of 50% of campesterol, 25% of                β-sitosterol, 15% of cycloartenol, and 10% of                             2,4methylenecycloartanol.                                                      *.sup.2 γ-Oryzanol composed of 25% of campesterol, 15% of                β-sitosterol, 20% of cycloartenol, and 40% of                             2,4methylenecycloartanol.                                                      *.sup.3 Sorbitan sesquioleate containing 0.9% of total free polyol.            *.sup.4 Sorbitan monolaurate containing 4.0% of total free polyol.             *.sup.5 Sorbitan monooleate containing 4.0% of total free polyol.        

                                      TABLE 12                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Results of Storage of Soft Capsules                                                        Immediately after production                                                                      After storage                                                     Degree of            Degree and time                                Storage                                                                             External                                                                             crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                                                                           External                                                                               of crystalli-                                                                           Microscopic                    Composition                                                                           condition                                                                           appearance                                                                           zation                                                                               examination                                                                           appearance                                                                             zation   examination                    __________________________________________________________________________     V      Room Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    tem- transparent        transparent                                     W      pera-                                                                               Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    ture transparent        transparent                                     .sup.  X*.sup.1                                                                            Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     .sup.  X*.sup.2                                                                            Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     V      40° C. &                                                                     Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    75% RH                                                                              transparent        transparent                                     W           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     .sup.   X*.sup.1                                                                           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     .sup.  X*.sup.2                                                                            Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     V      20° C. &                                                                     Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                    95% RH                                                                              transparent        transparent                                     W           Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red oil                                                                         + (2 months)                                                                            γ-oryzanol                           transparent        crystallized                                    .sup.  X*.sup.1                                                                            Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     .sup.  X*.sup.2                                                                            Orange red                                                                           --    --     Orange red                                                                             --       --                                         transparent        transparent                                     __________________________________________________________________________      *.sup.1 Film-forming agent containing 11.7 mg of sorbitol and 39.4 mg of       conc. glycerin.                                                                *.sup.2 Film-forming agent containing 34.8 mg of sorbitol and 16.3 mg of       conc. glycerin.                                                           

What we claim is:
 1. A soft gelatin capsule which contains a composition encapsulated within said capsule consisting essentially of (a) γ-oryzanol alone or γ-oryzanol in combination with riboflavin butyrate, (b) at least one surface active agent selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaureate, sorbitan sesquioleate, and sorbitan monooleate, and (c) at least one oil selected from the group consisting of tocopherol and derivatives thereof, wheat germ oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, neutral oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and peanut oil wherein the γ-oryzanol is the oryzayl alcohol ester of ferulic acid in which the oryzayl alcohol moiety is composed of 25 to 50% of campesterol, 15 to 25.73% of β-sitosterol, 15 to 30% of cycloartenol, and 10 to 40% of 2,4-methylenecycloartanol. 